Nicolas Sarkozy in Bucharest: France is loyal friend to, will never betray Romania

France is a loyal friend to Romania and will never betray it, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in a speech held before the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament on Monday. He said he was proud to be the first French head of state to visit Romania as a EU member state and welcomed the partnership between the two countries, considering that France is the third commercial partner of Romania.

Sarkozy spoke of the need of a European pact on migration, of the EU defense policy, about nuclear energy and common agricultural issues.

During his short visit to Romania, a country that has risen many eyebrows across Europe with the wave of migrants going West since it joined the EU a year ago, Sarkozy said migration was a major challenge for the EU. He said Europe had to fight against clandestine migration and considered it unacceptable that Europe has 27 different legislative frameworks on migration instead of a single pact.

He also spoke about independence plans for Kosovo, saying it was essential that Europe stay united over her position regarding the future status of the province.

Romanian President Traian Basescu and his French counterpart expressed divergent views on Kosovo during Sarkozy’s visit to Bucharest. While Sarkozy said the independence of Kosovo was inevitable, Basescu said Romania would be an extremely loyal partner in EU decision making, but would not recognize the independence of Kosovo as an unilateral gesture.

The two heads of state also signed a statement on the application of a five-year strategic partnership between the two countries, due to be renewed every five years and covering political dialogue, economic development, science, free movement of people, European-level defense and security.

Sarkozy’s visit also included talks with PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu, attended by Romania’s Foreign, Economy and Home Affairs ministers.

French involvement in Nabucco project

French energy group Gaz de France is to be associated to the Nabucco energy project with the strong support of Romania, Romanian President Traian Basescu said following talks with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy in Bucharest on Monday.

The two heads of state held bilateral talks during the several-hour official visit paid by the French president to Romania today. Sarkozy’s visit also included talks with Romanian PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu.